Saturday, November 19, 2011

Christmas Cookie Tips

LESS STRESS, LESS MESS & MORE FUN ???? At Holiday time ? YES! Homemade TASTE BETTER, Makes more IMPACT on those you entertain & can be FUN for the WHOLE FAMILY! Plus they make GREAT GIFTS ! Here are some old time, passed down tips to help it all come together !

 1.Mix cookies up when you have some free time ( YES YOU DO HAVE SOME !) , freeze the cookie dough for baking later at your leisure ! Mix up 2 or 3 kinds while you have your ingredients out, equipment out, kitchen a mess from the first batch.

2. Stick with family favorites then add one or two new types for FUN !

3. You do not have to stick to the recipe when it comes to the extras, do not like nuts? Leave them out. Want chocolate chips instead of raisins ? Go right ahead switch them. Hate cloves but the recipe calls for them? Use nutmeg or cinnamon instead. Let children HELP ! Let them sprinkle colored sugar or jimmies on the unbaked cookies or frost the ones that need frosting. When my children were small I would call out, " I need someone to taste the chocolate chips to make sure they are GOOD!" They would come running ! Even as teens they would ask if I needed a taster of the chocolate chips ! Children could also help stir in the add ins like nuts, raisins and all those chocolate chips. Of course they are also good for being THE TASTERS of those cookies still warm from the oven just to make sure they are good too !

4. Storing, Use airtight containers! I use old tin popcorn cans that you get the 3 types of popcorn in at Christmas. I save them & friends who get them know to save them for me. Layer cookies in your container between wax paper one layer of cookies do not store cookies stacked without the wax paper on each other they will clump. One type of cookie per container DO NOT mix types they will change the flavor & texture of each other. For your SOFT cookies like sugar cookies & cake like cookies, lay one piece of white bread on the top of the last layer of cookies in your container. Switch with a new piece of bread every 4th day or so. This keeps your soft cookies soft & fresh baked. Store cookies in a cool place. I keep mine in the garage in their tins. When doing this you may bake cookies 4 weeks ahead & they keep like fresh baked cookies! Do not freeze cookies as it will DRY them out & change the taste! I have been baking for 40 years & this is a NO FAIL way of storing cookies !

5. When serving cookies arrange them on a pretty plate so colors & textures show off one another. DO NOT serve Sandtarts with any other cookie they will go soft & they should be crisp ! They deserve a pretty plate all by themselves !


6. HAVE FUN & best of all you get to try your cookies right out of the oven ! GOT MILK?



                                                                         

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